Shopping in a Time of Crisis!

A quiet stroll, around midday,
When hordes of workers stay away
In my quiet, almost rural, spot
Just right for a Delhaize shop!

I'd heard the news of shelves unfilled
Of masked cashiers who manned the tills
Of «paper products»* out of stock ...
But hey, I must go out and shop!

Red tape on floor – each to his space
The tannoy crackles – we must race ...
Is this some mad game? Beat the Clock?
I checked my list, I had to shop:

Fruit and veg in bright profusion
No talking with the staff – intrusion!
Not even neighbours' eyes can lock
Too bad – for all of us must shop!

My urgent needs were very few;
At the check-out – not a queue
«No cash! Just bank cards!» Please, don't mock
For now, folks, this is how we shop!

Title possibly inspired by "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Mexican author Gabriel Garcia Marquez who also wrote "A Hundred Years of Solitude" ...

* Toilet paper!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

At Chiangi Airport 2020

Singapore, mid-afternoon
Bids sultry welcome; deplaned soon
We're met by masks held firm in place -
The Corona virus picks up pace...

Harsh, red print warnings as we pass
The threat, like SARS, is spreading fast
Both flight and airport personnel
Quite conscious of this stealthy Hell.

Winged artwork hails from Mexico
Up shallow steps I stand – mid-flow
Poinsettias blossom in profusion
In vibrant, tropical collusion.

Water fountains, free Wi-Fi
Escape to lounge – time passes by
Thick carpets muffle travellers' feet
Service – generous and discreet ...

Flights on screens – no tannoy noise
Yes, Chiangi airport hub has poise
A casual flip through magazines
«The Straits Times» headlines health care schemes:

Handwashing, disinfecting floors
Wiping knobs on lifts and doors
Cleaners, gloved-up, do their stuff
But are these measures quite enough?

Many people are infected
New cases on cruise ship* detected
Mainland China bears the brunt
Its travellers pay the price up front.

Wuhan lock-down, cancellations
Disruption ruffles widespread Nations;
This enemy we cannot see
But it is real, believe you me!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

*The Diamond Princess

Mexico on the Edge

The Earth moves in mysterious ways
Rock solid – molten mass
Right now we're in an active phase*
With aftershocks and gas.

Big cities cannot stand the strain
Now Mexico succombs
It's rattle and roll time again
The population runs ...

Cracks and fissures, dust, debris
As pressure finds release
Busy streets now barren scree
Nature's War and Peace ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2017



* The 2017 Chiapas earthquake struck at 23:49 CDT on 7 September in the Gulf of Tehuantepec off the southern coast of Mexico, near state of Chiapas, approximately 87 kilometres southwest of Pijijiapan,

100 Days

A hundred days – what does that mean?
Is this the ending of the Dream?
The pack re-shuffled, dealt anew
Who holds the trump card - what think you?

More insecurity and doubt
The stock exchange can't work it out
Much posturing, bold brinkmanship
The polls reflect an all-time dip...

Some rhetoric does not make sense
What progress on US defence?
What of the wall in Mexico ...
And Hillary* - who's lying low ...

The winds of change blow hard and strong
France** dances to a brand new song;
The watchword now appears to be
Keep your eyes peeled – wait and see!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

The first 100 days of the Trump presidency

* Clinton
** Emmanuel Macron elected new President of France.